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Heading into the summer, all eyes were on the NBA Draft lottery, and once the San Antonio Spurs won it, all eyes shifted to them. They picked Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, as was expected, and have been the center of attention ever since.
However, one of the biggest knocks on the 19-year-old rookie is his scrawny frame, as he’s likely too small to guard traditional centers should he get backed down in the post. At least, that’s the way the Spurs seemingly view it. According to Andrew Lopez in ESPN’s latest NBA power rankings, the Spurs have listed him as a forward.
Because of this, Lopez believes the rookie will be guarding wings next year.
“It’s going to be all about Victor Wembanyama this year for the Spurs, who experimented with different ways to use the No. 1 overall pick during his two-game stint in summer league,” Lopez wrote. “Also of note, the Spurs are listing Wembanyama as a forward on their roster — not a forward/center or center. He’ll certainly have his moments where he plays the five spot, but expect to see him guarding wings as well, as he did in Las Vegas.”
With his length and defensive versatility, Wembanyama should be just fine on the defensive end. To take it a step further, he should grow into one of the most impressive defensive players in the league.
But for the time being, having Zach Collins out there to guard opposing centers while Wembanyama gets accustomed to the league is a smart move.
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